KHS NJROTC Cadets Spend Weekend Aboard Great Lakes Maritime Academy Ship

25 high school cadets boarded the T/S State of Michigan ship for an overnight leadership training

During a weekend leadership training aboard the T/S State of Michigan ship this spring, 25 Kinglsey cadets executed firefighting, survival at sea, line handling, marine communications, stow away and bomb-threat searches, and overnight fire watch drills, earning the coveted NJROTC Sea Service Ribbon.

"The Kingsley Cadets recently received the highest grade of 'Outstanding' during the Area Three Manager inspection. Their performance, initiative, engagement, and professionalism onboard the T/S State of Michigan reflects this honor," said Lieutenant Robert S. Watrous, USNR, in a letter to Admiral Mattingly, the commander in charge of the Naval Service Training Command.

"GLMA is proud to share a community with these young men and women."

Kingsley High School instructor and NJROTC leader Gunnery Sergeant Mathew Barr says the training organization was so impressed by Kingsley's cadets that they will pursue the ability invite them back annually, and not be part of the three-year rotation other groups cycle through.

"I am so proud of the cadets!" said GySgt. Barr. "They represented Kingsley in such a positive way that we were the first unit they invited back. They are bringing it up their chain of command to try and make this an annual event for us. This is a huge deal as they are only allowed to let civilians on the ship twice a year."

About the KHS NJROTC

Kingsley High School NJROTC was inaugurated in fall of 2024 and is the first unit in Michigan north of Flint. Having an NJRTOC in Kingsley has been a dream years in the making for teacher Kristen Bauer, who was instrumental in bringing the program to the district. Instructor GySgt. Mathew Barr spent 15 years in the Marines and was deployed to 40+ countries and brings a wealth of knowledge to the class. The curriculum is based in naval science but includes topics like history, strategy, navigation, astronomy, engineering, military tactics, and more.

Learn more about Kingsley’s unit here.

For more information on the NJROTC, contact GySgt. Barr at mbarr@kingsleyschools.org 

Photo credit: Kristen Bauer